Bumper



BUMPER Filed Aug. 22. '1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l Hal.

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M l 7p@ @mmf/7m Patente-d Dec.. 24, 1929 GEORGE V7. VEALE, 0F CLEVELANDHEG-HTS, 013110, ASSG-NR EATGF .AXLE

in SPRING CMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, GEH), .l CURPRATIGN QF @E10 Applicationfiled August 22, 192?.

rIhis invention relates to bumpers for automobiles, and has referenceparticularly to bumpers in which the impact bars are proJ vided withlongitudinal grooves for the reception of decorative wires.

One object of the invention is the provision of a clamp for holding suchwires in place in their grooves, particularly where the wires do not lieflush with the surface of the bar, and at t-he same time for clampingthe bar to hold it against movement in its own plane, that is, upward ordownward, the latter result being accomplished exclusively through thewire engaging portions of the clamp plate.

Other objects and features of novelty will appear as l proceed with thedescription of that embodiment of the invention which, for the purposesof the present application, l have illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figures 1 and 2 are plan and elevational views,respectively, of a bumper embodying my invention.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view on a larger' scale, the section beingtaken substantially on the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure l is a front view of the outer clamping plate shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a transverse section taken substantially on the line 5-5 ofFigure 2.

Figures 6 and 7 are plan and elevational views, respectively, of abumper in which is embodied a different form of the invention.

Figure 8 is a section on a larger scale, taken substantially on the line8-3 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a front view of the outer clamping plate shown in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a rear view of the same plate.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, l have illustrated theinvention as applied to a full bumper having impact bars 10 and 11spaced apart evenly throughout their length and provided with rebentends 12. llhese ends are attached to plates 13 of generally triangularshape. A rear bar 111 is also riveted at its ends to the plates 13,whereby a closed loop is formed with a single bar in the rear and twospaced impact bars on the front vor outer side. T his particulararrangement of the bars may be varied considerably Serial No. 214,535.

without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Each of the bars 10 and 11 is provided with one or more longitudinalGrooves 15 extend ing through the length of the bar. The bar itself willordinarily be painted, enameled or otherwise cheaply finished in a darlicolor, or in a color to harmonize with the colors of the automobile uponwhich the bumper is to be used. N ow in order to provide an attrae* tiveappearance l mount within the grooves 15 ornamental wires which, in thepresent in stance, take the form of thin metal strips 16, preferably ofa color to contrast with the color of the bars, a nichel plated wirebeing ornamental and satisfactory for the purpose as a rule. These wiresare preferably riveted to the bars at their enc s, as indicated at 17.

Intermediate the points 1'? l provide one or more clamps to assist inretaining the wires 16 in place, three such clamps being the numberpreferably employed, these clamps having in addition the other usualfunctions of such clamps. The central clamp comprises an outer plate 18and an inner plate 19, which plates overlie the opposite surfaces ofboth impact bars l() and 11 and have aligning open ings through whichextends a clamping bolt 2O that also passes through a hole in the bar14, a nut 21 on the rear of the bolt bearing, through a lock washer 22,on the bach of the bar 14 and serving to draw the parts up into clampingrelation. Across the rear surface of the plate 18 there are elongatedbosses 23 which entend into the grooves 15 and engage the outer faces ofthe strips 16. The bosses 23, therefore, serve to retain the wires 16,but in addition they engage the side walls of the grooves 15 and therebyprevent any relative motion of the two bars 10 and 11 either toward oraway from each other.

TWhen clamps other than the center' clamp are employed they may beidentical with the center clamp except when, as shown in Figures 1 and2, they do not engage the rear bar of the bumper and in such cases thebolt 2a is shorter than the bolt 20.

In the modification of Figures G to 10 inclusive there are shown impactbars 25 and 26 and a rear bar Q7 similar in general form to the bars 10,11 and 14E and secured together in the same manner. The bars 25 and 26,however, are provided with one or more grooves 28 of a semi-circularcross section, in which are mounted ornamental wires 29 of circularsection, these wires preferably extending around the rebent ends of thebars 25 and 26 and being clamped in place by plates 30 which form themeans for attach ment between the ifipact bars and the rear bar 27. Thewires 29 may be nickel plated or otherwise finished to contrast with thefinishing of the bars themselves.

ln this modification the clamp comprises the same rear plate 19, thesame bolt 20, nut 2l and washer 22, but the front plate 3l is formed onits rear surface with substantially semi-circular grooves 32 forembracing the wires 29. `When the nut 2l is drawn up tightly the wires29 are held securely in the grooves 28 of the bars 25 and 26. At thesame time and by the same means these bars are also held againstrelative movement toward or away from each other, inasmuch as the clampplate 3l holds the wires and the bars 25 and 26 are immovable withrespect vto each other. f

Throughout the foregoing specification and in the appended claims I haveemployed the term wire in its generally understood commercial sense,that is as applying to a material furnished in coils, regardless of itscross section.

Having thus described my invention what l claim is:

l. In a bumper, a pair of 'impact bars spaced apart vertically, each ofsaid bars having a plurality of longitudinal grooves in the outersurface thereof, a decorative wire mounted in each sai-d groove, saidwires being of a cross section different from that of the grooves,clamping means for holding said wires in said grooves, said meanscomprising a plate overlying the outer surfaces of the two bars, saidplate being formed to engage said wires substantially throughouttheywidth of the same.

2. ln a bumper, a pair of impact bars spaced apart vertically, each lofsaid 'bars having a plurality oflongitudinal grooves in the outersurface thereof, a decorative wire mounted in each said groove, saidwires being of a cross section different from that ofthe grooves,clamping means for vholding said wires in said grooves, said meanscomprising a plate overlying the'outer surfaces of the two bars andhaving an inset portion between the bars, said plate being formed toengage said Wires substantially throughout those portions thereof whichare out of contact with the walls of said grooves.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature.

GEORGE W. VEALE.

